"I once suggested to certain hierarchs that the EP ought to move to DC as the new seat of the Empire."
Maybe he could move to Rome and the Pope could appoint him Chief Doorkeepr of St Peter's!
I understand that at one time there was a Latin Patriarch of Constantinople who resided in Rome.
"I understand that at one time there was a Latin Patriarch of Constantinople who resided in Rome."
There was a Latin patriarch of Constantinople installed after the rape of the City by the soldiers of the 4th Crusade. In a gesture of brotherly love, the soldiers of the Pope even set a prostitute on the Patriarchial Throne and bowed to her. In any event, after the fall of the Latins some years later, the "Latin Patriarch" fled to Rome. Whether Rome continued after his death to appoint a successor or successors I don't know. If they did, they stopped a very, very long time ago. By the way, to its credit, Rome formally apologized for the 4th Crusade's sack of the City.